Birding trip · 18 nights · Arrive San José (SJO)
The Caribbean canals at Tortuguero, birded from a boat, then four nights at Arenal, two in the Monteverde cloud forest, three near Carara for the Scarlet Macaws, four at Drake Bay on the Osa, and the quetzal at San Gerardo de Dota to close. Both coasts and the mountains between them, for the birder with three weeks and a long list.
East to the Caribbean and by boat into Tortuguero, back out and west to Arenal, across the lake to Monteverde, down to the Pacific at Carara, south to the Osa, then up into the Talamanca, an hour and a half from the airport on the last morning.
The route between the numbered stops, the run back to the airport (dashed); lodges as small red pins.Every stop and lodge on this route is in the numbered list.
We have built this shape for birders more than once since 2025, and it is the one I would give anyone who says "we have three weeks and we want to see all of it".
Tortuguero goes first because the boat days are easier when you are fresh. Arenal gets four nights, more than most of our trips give it, because it is the hinge of the route and the place to rest before the cloud forest.
The quetzal is last, and I like it there. After the heat of the Osa, two cold mornings in the Talamanca feel like a different country, and San Gerardo de Dota is an hour and a half from the airport.
Jason Bateman, Costa Rica Specialist
Day 1 · 1 night
Hotel Bougainvillea, Heredia
Hotel Bougainvillea. Gardens with mature trees twenty minutes from the airport.
Days 2 to 3 · 2 nights
Laguna Lodge, Tortuguero
Laguna Lodge. On the strip of land between the Caribbean Sea and the Tortuguero lagoon, reached by boat, on the water you bird from.
At Tortuguero, the Great Green Macaw and the Keel-billed Toucan of the Caribbean lowlands, with Great Potoo and Sunbittern on the list and Roseate Spoonbill among the water birds of the canals.
Days 4 to 7 · 4 nights
Arenal Manoa, Arenal
Arenal Manoa. The four Arenal nights on this route.
At Arenal, the Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Lovely Cotinga, Yellow-eared Toucanet and Great Curassow; tanagers, hummingbirds and trogons from the bridges.
Days 8 to 9 · 2 nights
Trapp Family Lodge, Monteverde
Trapp Family Lodge. The closest hotel to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, in the green mountains above Santa Elena.
At Monteverde, Three-wattled Bellbird, Resplendent Quetzal, Lesson's Motmot, Collared Trogon and Keel-billed Toucan at Curi-Cancha.
Days 10 to 12 · 3 nights
Hotel Punta Leona, Punta Leona
Hotel Punta Leona. A beach resort in one of the country's last transition forests, where the wet Pacific forest meets the dry, with Carara and the Tárcoles river a short drive away.
At Carara and on the Tárcoles, the Scarlet Macaw and Collared Aracari in the park, Boat-billed Heron from the mangrove boat.
Days 13 to 16 · 4 nights
Drake Bay Wilderness, Drake Bay
Drake Bay Wilderness. The lodge for the Osa nights on this route.
At Drake Bay and on the Osa, the Scarlet Macaw in numbers, the Fiery-billed Aracari, Ornate Hawk-Eagle and Riverside Wren.
Days 17 to 18 · 2 nights
Trogon Lodge, San Gerardo de Dota
Trogon Lodge. Cabins by the Savegre River inside the forest the quetzals feed in, the valley's guides at the door.
At San Gerardo de Dota, the Resplendent Quetzal again, in the valley we send people to for it, with Fiery-throated Hummingbird and Black Guan.
At Tortuguero, the Great Green Macaw and the Keel-billed Toucan of the Caribbean lowlands, with Great Potoo and Sunbittern on the list and Roseate Spoonbill among the water birds of the canals.
At Arenal, the Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Lovely Cotinga, Yellow-eared Toucanet and Great Curassow; tanagers, hummingbirds and trogons from the bridges.
At Monteverde, Three-wattled Bellbird, Resplendent Quetzal, Lesson's Motmot, Collared Trogon and Keel-billed Toucan at Curi-Cancha.
At Carara and on the Tárcoles, the Scarlet Macaw and Collared Aracari in the park, Boat-billed Heron from the mangrove boat.
At Drake Bay and on the Osa, the Scarlet Macaw in numbers, the Fiery-billed Aracari, Ornate Hawk-Eagle and Riverside Wren.
At San Gerardo de Dota, the Resplendent Quetzal again, in the valley we send people to for it, with Fiery-throated Hummingbird and Black Guan.
Every trip is a custom quote built around your dates and your list.
“We came to Costa Rica because my husband is a bird watcher ... and we were delighted to find that Abel was also passionate about birds, and he gave us a great experience showing us all the different birds as he drove us to our destinations!”
“The Scarlett Macaw and the Resplendent Quetzal were 2 of our target birds and we got both along with 182 species and 118 new birds to add to our life list!”
“They also understand birding travel versus other types of travel and found lodges that catered to birding.”
Yes. The shortest version we have built for a birder was 15 nights: Tortuguero, Arenal, Manuel Antonio, Drake Bay and the quetzal, with Monteverde out.
For a serious list, yes: it is the wildest forest we sell, with birds found nowhere else in the country, and three nights is the minimum.
No. Everything from landing to check-in for the flight home is ours; the flights are yours, and we advise on times.
Yes. Mawamba Lodge in place of Laguna Lodge, Arenal Observatory Lodge for the Arenal nights, or Sarapiquí added between Tortuguero and Arenal.
No. Private, for your party only, on your dates; we run no fixed-date group tours.
This route birds three of our five birding zones: Caribbean Lowlands, Highlands and Central and Southern Pacific Lowlands. Each zone page has its parks, its birds and every lodge we use there.
Or see all twenty-three birding trips, or every lodge we use, on one map.
Tell us your dates and your list. A Costa Rica specialist writes back with your version of this trip.
Keep going: add more birds, lodges or tours, then turn your Wishlist into a trip.
